Johnson, Tucker and Salzman for Oak Park village board

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Opinion: Columns

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 10:00 PM

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Bob Tucker, Adam Salzman and Ray Johnson

Citizens for Accountable Leadership

To introduce ourselves, we are Ray Johnson, Adam Salzman and Bob Tucker. Together, as the Citizens for Accountable Leadership slate, we seek election to the three open trustee seats on the Oak Park village board. The election is April 5 and early voting begins March 14. You will find our names in the first three positions on your ballot.

We pledge to you accountable, responsible leadership emphasizing fiscal discipline. Visit www.voteCAL.com to read our specific proposals for reducing spending while maintaining the level of services that Oak Parkers have come to expect.

Platforms and pledges require qualified people to implement them. Each of us has the experience and skills to get the job done:

Ray Johnson has served as a village trustee since 2003, and the community for more than 20 years, including current membership on the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association board. He is a program manager in HSBC's Community Investment Department, and has 28 years of experience with HSBC in budget, finance, personnel and management. As trustee, he is liaison to the plan, historic preservation, transportation and universal access citizen commissions. Ray is distinguished, not only by his extensive experience in municipal government and finance, but also by the fact that thousands of Oak Parkers know Ray and recognize him for his responsiveness, attention to resident concerns and his tireless passion for improving our village.

Adam Salzman is an attorney, specializing in pension and benefits issues, both areas that the village board will be grappling with over the next four years. He began his career in the Cook County Public Guardian's Office representing abused minors and adults with disabilities. He currently chairs Oak Park's Universal Access Commission, which serves residents with disabilities. As commission chairman, he has expanded the commission's outreach program by holding meetings in facilities where Oak Parkers with disabilities already reside. Adam lives in northeast Oak Park with his wife, Jill, and their two young daughters.

Bob Tucker is the corporate general counsel and chief risk officer for Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, an organization dedicated to affordable housing and improving neighborhoods. Bob has extensive experience working with complex budgets, and in the areas of municipal finance, housing and development. These are critical issues to Oak Park now, and they will be for years to come. He currently chairs the village's community design commission. Bob and his wife, Vicki, have lived in Oak Park for 16 years, and have two sons, Spencer (OPRF) and Bennett (Longfellow).

Experience matters. In this era of shrinking federal, state and local budgets, the next village board will have to hit the ground running, with little time for on-the-job training. Our slate has a combined record of service in Oak Park that touches on major issues that the next village board will face. We respectfully ask for your vote on April 5.

Ray Johnson, Adam Salzman and Bob Tucker are running as the Citizens for Accountable Leadership slate of candidates in the April 5 election. They're competing for three open spots on the Oak Park village board, along with independents Lewis Carmichael and Lynn Kessen.

@GailMoran ... thank you for exemplifying VMA's view of the "opposition" in Oak Park. In reference to Martha Brock, a female African-American, and Geoff Baker, father of two young adopted kids from Guatemala, Ms. Moran refers to them as "two of whom resigned during their term because they couldn't take it." VMA's treatment of former Trustees Brock and Baker during their tenure was deplorable, a shameful chapter in local history. Ms. Moran once again demonstrates VMA's selective view of diversity.

apathetic, too from oak park

Posted: March 11th, 2011 11:06 PM

It's called ONE VIEW and I don't know why but all these many qualifications don't inspire me in Oak Park 2011. Good luck.

OP Resident

Posted: March 11th, 2011 10:41 PM

Did Gail Moran lose her computer privileges or has she given up posting on this forum for Lent? Gail seems to have taken a powder since being challenged to defend/explain her comments. She was the lone VMA loyalist willing to engage in a discussion regarding the party's record.

Bob Brinker from Miami

Posted: March 11th, 2011 7:43 AM

Did the VMA take the money or not? Was Bob Tucker getting paid from Chapman & Cutler getting no bid contracts from D97 and Village hall or nor? Can the public see the candidate's tax returns? Can the public see the lawyer bills for Village Hall and D97? Just the facts please. Gail will you meet me for tea in never never land?

Op Resident

Posted: March 10th, 2011 11:09 PM

"Tall One with Glasses" again. I'm the "OP Resident" who's been responding to Gail's posts. That's me at 9:29pm and 9:42pm this evening. The 10:15pm post from "OP Resident" is the work of someone else. Maybe I should switch to "Zippy" or " Enquiring Mind" or "OPRF" or "Violet Aura". Have any of those dubs been taken?

OP Resident

Posted: March 10th, 2011 11:00 PM

I've never met Ray Johnson but have witnessed his actions as a Village trustee and never observed him display any rude behaviour towards a staff member or citizen. There seem to be so many people posting with the "OP Resident" dub,it gets kind of confusing. I guess you could think of this "OP Resident" as the "tall one with glasses". I hope that helps clear up the confusion. Maybe we should atart a Yahoo group for folks who want to be a "OP Resident".

OP Resident

Posted: March 10th, 2011 10:15 PM

I have only met Ray Jonnson twice. Both times at political functions. My impression is that he is a rude person. He seems more about himself than whats best for the village.

OP Resident

Posted: March 10th, 2011 9:42 PM

Gail is right to point her finger at the decisions made by the trustees regarding the Colt Building. What were they thinking? Of course, we should also wonder about the thought process of a VMA board that tore up Lake Street and replaced it with a disastrous pedestrian mall. Or question the odd deal that gave OP-RF a new parking garage in exchange for support of the TIF extension. The VMA has done a lot of good for the community but must also acknowledge the mistakes. Isn't that right, Gail?

OP Resident

Posted: March 10th, 2011 9:29 PM

Gail knows her Oak Park history. The VMA vote was splintered and that's how the opposition slate won. You are being especially cruel regarding Martha Brock. She resigned for health reasons. Geoff Baker had a young family and couldn't devote the time required to be an effective trustee. A lot of people who post on this and other forums use dubs. Check out Huff Post. It's strange that a top VMA rep demands transperancy while also supporting the Board's closed door meetings. Your serve.

Jon Donohue

Posted: March 10th, 2011 9:26 PM

@Gail: I have spoken with Ray Johnson and I have found him to be very good at manipulating the truth and denying the facts. There is no doubt that he is willing to talk. However, he minimizes you if you do agree with his worldview and present an opposing point of view, regardless how valid. I have never known anyone who denies facts as much as he does.

john murtagh from oak park

Posted: March 10th, 2011 9:25 PM

Yup, it was 2005 and Joanne Trapani, the VMA's Congeniality Queen had just left the presidency after four regal years of arrogance against the trustees and the public. She was replaced by Independent David Pope who showed his inexperience in handling non-VMA trained trustees and lost complete control of the board. Yep those were the good old days.

john murtagh from oak park

Posted: March 10th, 2011 9:15 PM

Yup, it was 2005,

Gail Moran from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: March 10th, 2011 7:29 PM

@OP Resident (BTW, which one are you - who are you - why won't you tell us your name?) Are you talking about that election that produced the slate of "opposition" candidates, two of whom resigned during their term because they couldn't take it, and before they left made the disastrous decision to buy the Colt building (which is now a surface parking lot)?

OP Resident

Posted: March 10th, 2011 7:08 PM

I participated in a Q & A conducted by reps from all of the unions that represented Village of Oak Park employees. It was to be informational rather than confrontational.Invitationswere sent to each individual seeking a seat on the Village Board. There were actually three full slates of candidates running in that election. So it is possible to challenge the VMA. Anyway, only the VMA slate of candidates would not meet with us. The official response? No interest! Most of that slate lost.

Gail Moran from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: March 10th, 2011 7:06 PM

@Paul - I suggest you attend the forum at the Buzz Cafe next week, or the one at Ascension Church, or perhaps the League of Women Voters candidate fair and ask your questions. I think you will find the candidates quite responsive. Heck, if you ask them to, they will show up on your porch!

paul from oak park

Posted: March 10th, 2011 6:55 PM

I don't see anyone on this thread talking "Character Assassination". I see people discussing a person's public record. It's too bad that we will never know whether Tucker and Salzman would be good for the village because they are not talking. Johnson's not talking. In fact no one who has run on a VMA platform since 1996 has ever talked issues. It is always platitudes or attitudes. "You don't elect politicians to be criminals, you elect politicians to commit your crimes for you".

Gail Moran from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: March 10th, 2011 6:31 PM

@Jon: Your comments are over the top. If you have legitimate differences with particular Village Trustees, you might want to directly question those Trustees instead of engaging in character assassination. You will find Trustee Johnson to be forthcoming and always willing to discuss differences of opinion in a cordial way.

JC

Posted: March 9th, 2011 11:32 AM

Ray Johnson was clear on his position re: collective bargaining rights for public sector employees. He's an advocate. Why he has yet to state his opinion on the planned development in the Comcast building concerns me. I am not able to attend the meet & greets the slate has scheduled but would like to know where Johnson, Tucker & Salzman stand on the issue. They are going to vote on the plan shortly after the election. The voters deserve to know how each candidate will vote. Seems fair.

Jon Donohue

Posted: March 9th, 2011 8:49 AM

It is sad how Ray Johnson is campaigning on "accountable, responsible leadership emphasizing fiscal discipline," but his record is far from his campaign promise. While he has been trustee the OP's accounting practices mimic those of Enron, the pensions are underfunded, D97 is underfunded, D200 is ridiculed, the Village has one of the highest debt ratios of any suburb, he routinely supports financially irresponsible projects, he makes decisions behind closed doors, and the list can go on and on.

Enquiring Mind from Oak Park

Posted: March 9th, 2011 5:58 AM

Bottom Line: (1) As part of "accountable, responsible leadership and fiscal discipline", where do you stand on the District 97 Referendum? (2) What are your specific thoughts on the Comcast Building proposal...is it good for Oak Park? Is it consistent with the (stalled) vision for Madison Street? If approved, what specific steps will you take to be sure that building residents are positive contributors to the Village and the neighborhood?

john murtagh from oak park

Posted: March 9th, 2011 12:31 AM

Remember the hey-day of the press when reporters put a pigeon hold on candidates and asked them tough questions. Remember the days when candidates backgrounds and positions were studied by eager columnist who wanted the deep background,not personal profiles. Remember when candidates fought to define the issues they passionately held. Those days are gone now, folks. Now the candidates say: Visit www.voteCAL.com to read our specific proposals for reducing spending,blah,blah,blah,blah,blah

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